Page 23 of Still Afraid

“… Leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms …”

Josh prayed for Chloe. Her faith was rock solid, but fear was still a big struggle for her. She wasn’t talking about it, but he knew it was there. When they got to the third verse, which he’d nearly forgotten, he made a mental note to sing this song to Chloe again and again.

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms …”

They sang out the final chorus, each with an arm wrapped around the other and the opposite hand raised—standing together with Him regardless of what they may face.

As the pastor closed the service in prayer, Josh held his soon-to-be wife close.

Everyone around them started moving, but Josh zoned in on Chloe and gently rested his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

She nodded slowly. “For the moment. Got to keep leaning into Jesus.”

“For sure.”

Chloe turned and gathered her stuff; Josh picked up his Bible.

An older couple, Robert and Ruth, came over to them. The white-haired woman pulled Chloe into a hug. Robert extended his hand to Josh.

“Everything coming together for the wedding?”

Chloe answered. “Not like we expected, but things are working out.”

Josh told them about the tornado destroying their venue.

Ruth squeezed Chloe’s upper arm. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“Maybe addressing envelopes to let people know the location change?”

“That I can do. Just give me a call.”

“Thank you.” The women embraced, and they all said farewell.

Josh spotted Chloe’s brother Gabe and his wife, Aliza, across the sanctuary and waved. Gabe and Aliza both waved back, and while Gabe ventured their way, Aliza headed in the other direction, presumably to get the kids.

Josh shook Gabe’s hand when they met halfway, and then Chloe hugged her brother.

“We still on for moving stuff this afternoon?” Gabe asked.

Chloe nodded. “Then dinner at Mom and Dad’s.”

“Perfect. Jesse is on board too. Aaron had other plans.”

Their other brother Jesse was a few years younger than Chloe and lived about an hour away with his wife and three little ones.

They chatted with Gabe for a few minutes before he disappeared to help Aliza with the kids.

On their way toward the door, Josh and Chloe stopped and talked to several more people. All asked about the wedding. One of Josh’s small group guys had heard about the venue and was concerned for them. When Josh told him they were there when the tornado hit, the poor guy’s face turned ashen.

“That’s one of my biggest fears. So glad you guys weren’t hurt.”

“We are too.” Josh gripped Chloe’s hand.

They eventually made it to the parking lot, which was quickly clearing out. Chloe had backed her SUV into a spot near the bushes between two big trucks, an aisle over from where his car was. Thankfully, the repairman had called as they were finishing dinner last night to tell them he’d fixed the window. Josh couldn’t believe he got it done so fast, and on a Saturday nonetheless.

He walked her to the driver’s side. Bright sunshine glinted off the new window. The scratched up new window. “What on earth?”

She glanced up from digging through her bag for her keys and gave him a questioning look.